EVEN AS THE TV INDUSTRY HUDDLED IN WASHINGTON TO FIGURE OUT V-CHIP RATINGS, ALL HECK WAS BREAKING LOOSE ON THE TUBE

ONE APPEALING THING ABOUT CHANNEL SURFING IS THAT anyone can become a satirist with the mere flick of a wrist. For instance, last Thursday morning you could have watched President Clinton, live on cnn from the White House, as he flattered the assembled heads of the American television industry for recognizing that "their creativity and their freedom carries with it [sic] significant responsibility." What with V chips and elections looming, politicians and moguls were all doing their best to appear high-minded. But--in New York City, at any rate--you could have quickly subverted the mood by flipping over to the local Fox...